Music-desk for pianos.



Patented Dec. 3|, 19m.

No. 690,35l,

R. s. BUWEN. MUSIC DESK FOB PlANos.

(Application filed. Sept. 26, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Phtented Dec. 3|,1l90l.

MUSIC DESK FOR PIANOS.

(Application filed. Sept. 26, 1900.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

. UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ROBERT S. BOWEN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO OHIOKERING & SONS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MUSIC-.DESKFOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,351, dated December 31, 1901. Application filed September 26, 1900. Serial No. 31,174. (No model.)

To otZZ whom it may concern.- v

Be it known that I, ROBERT S. BOWEN, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing atJBoston,

lowing description, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof are pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation, partly in section,'of a pianodesk embodying my invention and showing also the cross-bar on which the desk is mounted. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section, showing the desk in position for use. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the desk when the piano is closed. Fig. 4 is a top View, partly in section, showing one end of the desk when it is folded back in the position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is'a' plan view showing in detail the means for adjusting the supporting-bar to fit pianos of different widths. 'Fig. 6 is a similar view, partly in section, the section being on line 6 6, Fig. 5 I Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a plan and elevation of the clamping mechanism which I employ to secure the removable supportingbar in position.

Pianos as usually constructed areprovided with music-desks which are mounted at such a height and inclination when in use as are best suited to the average performer. When, therefore, a child is using the piano or the performer is not of average stature or is deficient in vision or the like, he is obliged to assume an unnatural and often incorrect attitude, which is objectionable. It is furthermore frequently desirable that the desk should belaterally adjustable toward one side of the piano, as where the instrument is being used bya pupil seated beside his teacher or a vocalist beside his accompanist. Such an adjustment of the desk permits the music to be better placed for those using it and is advantageous. By the employment of my invention a desk avoiding the objections above referred to and possessing the advantages named is provided, and by the employment of the supporting-bar herein shown and described such desk may be quickly and easily applied to any size of instrument.

Having reference to the drawings, 1 designates the piano-desk, and 2 a folding or pivoted rest of well-known construction for supporting the music thereon. At the end of the desk are grooves 3, which extend from side to side thereof and which are preferably lined with a cushioning material 4:, which latter serves not only to prevent noise in adj usting the desk, but also; to give the parts of the adjusting mechanism which lie in the grooves 3 a more secure engagement therewith.

The adjustable carrier for the desk comprises two blocks 5, one of which is located at each end of the desk. Said blocks are each provided with a dovetailed recess or groove 6, which is also preferably lined with-a layer of soft or cushioning material 7 to prevent the marring of the supporting-bar 8, with which the blocks 5 engage and on which they may slide. The supporting-bar 8 is of the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. 2, so that it will fit within the said dovetailed recess 6 in the blocks 5. The blocks 5 are tied together, preferably by means of a strip of metal 9, to' each end of which one of the blocks is secured by means of the screws 10. To the front end of each of the blocks 5 is pivoted a metallic arm or tongue 12, which fits within the groove 3 at the end of the desk. A setscrew 13 passes through the trunnion or pivot 14. of the tongue 12,which trunnion is received in a hole formed through the block near the front end thereof, and the said screw bears against the bottom of the groove 3, as will be clear from Fig. 4. At the rear end of each block 5 an arm 15 is pivoted at 16. The said arm 15 is provided with a lengthwise slot 17,

through which the headed screw 18 passes, the said screw entering the arm or tongue 12. To support the desk at the inclinations at which it.is usually set, two or more recesses 19 are formed in the rear edge of the slot 17, near the upper curved end thereof. These recesses engage with the shank of the screw 18 and serve to support and hold thedesk in a given inclination. The slot 17 is of a length sufficient to permit the desk to be folded down or thrown back into the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the screw 18 will be at the bottom or inner end of the said slot. As will be clear, by loosening the set-screws 13 the desk may be adjusted widthwise to stand at any desired height.

WVhen the desk is not in use, the rest 2 is closed or swung up into the same plane as the face of the desk and the latter is thrown back into a horizontal position, the set-screws 13 are loosened, and the desk may then be slid inwardly, so as to come within the frame of the piano.

When the desk is applied to pianos at the time of their construction, it is not necessary to make the supporting-bar 8 removable; but

the same bar may be permanently attached to a portion of the piano-frame or may extend from side to side of the piano, as desired, it being simply necessary to so arrange it that the blocks 5, with their dovetail slots or re cesses, may be properly placed on the said support 8. If, however, it is desired to apply the desk to a piano already constructed and not provided with a proper support 8 to receive the blocks 5, Lprovide a support of the construction shown and which is preferably made adjustable as to length, so that it may be placed between the side portions of the piano-case and removably secured there to. (See 1, 5, and 6.) This removable bar is preferably placed within the pianocase directly above and resting upon the top of the front bar or cross-piece B of the case, as shown. The said removable bar comprises two parts, which are connected by means of bolts 24, which enter sockets 23 in the proximate. ends of the portions of the supportingbar. (See Figs. 5 and 6.) The said bolts are threaded and provided with nuts 25. Two of these bolts are preferably used forgreater stiffness and strength and also to prevent one portion of the supporting-bar from rotating relatively to the other portion thereof. As will be clear, by turning the nuts 25 the supporting-bar may be lengthened or shortened. One end 20 of the said bar (see Fig. 1) is preferably enlarged to give it a greater bearingsurface on the inside of the piano-case. The other end thereof is provided with a clamp device which is shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8, by means of which when the bar has been adjusted to the proper length by means of the nuts 25 it may be firmly clamped in position between the sides A of the piano-case. The said clamping device comprises a block 35, which has a slight sliding movement in a direction lengthwise of the supporting-bar 8. To retain the block 35 in place and at the same time afford a protection as well as a good frictional surface, the outer face of the block 35 and the end of the supporting-bar are covered with a thin sheet of rubber or similar material 40. This permits a slight movement of the block 35 in a direction lengthwise of the supporting-bar 8 and at the same time serves the purposes above noted. The plate 32 is provided with a projection 31 just inward of the block 35, as shown, the said projection having a threaded hole therethrough in which the thumb-screw 33 operates. At right angles to the said threaded hole there is provided a hole which receives the stud or projection 34, fast in the inner face of the block 35. The stud 34 has a beveled end,

and the thumb-screw has a corresponding conical end. As will be clear, therefore, the screwing in of the thumb-screw 33 will cause its conical end to engage the correspondinglybeveled end of the stud 34: and to force the stud 34 and block 35 outwardly against the side of the piano-case. A slight movement of the block 35 toward the side of the pianocase is sufficient when the supporting-bar has been properly adjusted by means of the nut or nuts 25 to force the said block 35, as also the opposite end of the supporting-bar, firmly into contact with the sides of the piano-case, so that the supporting-bar will be held rigidly in place. By this means the supportingbar may be set in any desired position within the piano-case relatively to the keyboard and may also be adjusted or seen red to any piano, although the said piano may vary considerably in width from pianos of the average or standard width.

It will thus be clear that by the employment of my invention the music-desk maybe adjusted laterally and vertically, as well as given any required degree of inclination when in use, and may likewise be closed or folded back and placed entirely within the piano case when not in use and when it is desired to close thepiano.

What I claim is- 1. In combination, a piano-frame, a music desk or rack, a supporting-bar, applied to the piano-frame, a mounting, applied to said supporting-bar, and adjustable thereon lengthwise of the keyboard of the piano to which the desk or rack is applied, connectors supporting the music desk or rack, applied to the said adjustable mounting and movable to carry themusic desk or rack into position for use and into a closed position in the piano, respectively, and means to adjust the height of the desk or rack when in position for use, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the frame of a piano, a music desk or rack, a supporting-bar, applied to the said frame, a mounting on which said desk or rack is carried and on which it is movable into position for use, and into a closed position in the piano, the said mounting be- ICC ing adjustable on said bar lengthwise of the keyboard of. the piano to whichfthefldesk or rack is applied, substantiallyas described.

3. In combination, a music desk 'or rack, a supporting-bar, a mounting for said'desk or rack fitted to slide laterally upon the supporting-bar, and connectors pivotally applied to said mountingandin sliding engagementwith the ends of said desk or rack, whereby the latter is enabled to be adjusted to vary the height of the music resting thereon, substantially as described.

4. In combination, a music desk or rack, a supporting-bar, a mounting for said desk or rack fitted to the supporting -bar,, arms or tongues in sliding engagement with the ends of the desk or rack and pivoted upon the mounting, and arms connecting the said arms or tongues and mounting wherebythe desired inclination of the musicdesk or rack is preserved while adjustment of the latter to vary the height of the music resting thereon is per mitted,-substantially as described.

5. In combination, a'supporting-bar, adapt,

ed to'be removably applied between'opposite portions of a piano-case, and extensible in' length to suit the distance between said-por-' tions, a mounting applied to said bar, and a music desk or rack applied to the said mounting, substantially as described.

6. In combination, a music desk or rack, a mounting therefor, a supporting-bar for said mounting adapted to be fitted between oppo-f site portionsof afpiano-case and composed of separate portions having corresponding sockets inth'eir proximate ends, rods received in the corresponding sockets, and adjustable col-f lars on the saidrods to determine the length" of the said supporting-bar, substantially as described.

7. In combination, a music desk'or rack, a

mounting therefor,a supporting-bar forsaid; mounting adaptedg to be fitted between oppo-j site portions of apiano-case and composed of portions susceptibleofadjustment to vary the length of the bar,"and a'clamping device applied to the said bar to engage with the pianocase, and thereby hold the bar in place in the piano, substantially as described.

8. In combination, a music desk or rack, a mounting therefor, a supporting-bar for said mounting adapted to be fitted between opposite portions of a piano case and composed of portions susceptible of lengthwise adjustment relativelyv to each other, a movable block applied to the bar for engagement with a portion of the piano-case, and a set-screw [having a cam portion engaging with the block to move the latter endwise of the bar into contact with thesaid portion of the piano-casetofsecure the bar in place on the piano," substantially as described.

9. In combination, a music desk or rack, a supporting-bar, a mounting fitted to slide laterally along the said supporting-bar, carriers for said music desk or rack, movable upon said mounting to place the music desk orrack in position for use or in'closed position in the piano,as desired,the music desk or rack being movable upon said carriers in the direction of its width to enable its height when in use to be adjusted, and means to maintain the music desk or rack, at a predetermined degree of inclination when in position for use, substantially as described.

10. In combination, the frame of a piano, the musicdesk or rack, the supporting-bar applied to the said frame, the mounting movable lengthwise of said bar, the connectors carrying said desk or rack, pivotallyfapplied to said mounting, and having sliding engagement withthe'said desk or rack," whereby the latter is rendered adjustable widthwise upon said connectors, to vary its height ,when in position for use, substantially as described.

11. In combination, a music desk or rack, a supporting-bar, a mounting'applied to the supporting bar, and movable transversely thereon,arms or tongues constituting carriers for said music desk or rack, pivotally con- .nected with the mounting, and in sliding engagement with the desk or rack to render the latter adjustable in the direction of its width upon said arms or tongues to enable its height ,when in use to be'adjusted,"and means tofix said music desk or rack relatively to said arms or tongues after beingadjusted widthwise thereon, substantially as described.

12. In combination, the frame of a piano,

the music desk or rack, the supporting-bar applied to the said-frame, the mounting on which said desk or rack is carried and on which it is movable into position for use and into a closed position in the piano, the said mounting being adjustable on said bar lengthwise of the keyboard of the piano, and means to adjust the desk or rack widthwise upon the said mounting to vary its height when in position for use, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature :in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT S. BOWEN.

Witnesses:

WM. A. MAOLEOD, ALICE H. MORRISON.

IIO 

